Arts Build Communities classes help professionals connect cultural, community and economic development

Arts Build Communities, through the Bloustein Online Continuing Education Program, is offering several online courses in 2010 that focus on the connection between arts and community health and prosperity.

Two types of courses are being offered: Learning Labs (which are webinars) and Deep Learning courses.  There are no required meetings in Deep Learning courses, but they are interactive.  Participants engage in online discussions through discussion boards facilitated by the instructor.  In studio courses, learners work on real problem-solving projects.

The classes are:
March 16, 2 to 3 pm eastern: Cultural Heritage Tourism Planning Basics

April 14 to May 22: Cultural Economic Development Studio
April 14 to May 20: Programming Cultural Uses
May 26 to July 3: Cultural Community Development Studio

Proceeds from the courses will be used to support Arts Build Communities

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New Jersey Creative Vitality Index now being published

The New Jersey Creative Vitality Index is now being published.  Portions of NJ-CVI are now available at http://policy.rutgers.edu/pdi/abc/resources/index.php

The site includes a table of contents and a report on the growth of self-employed artists in New Jersey, between 1998 and 2007.

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Seeking public affairs professionals to talk about arts, community and economic development

Arts Build Communities, an initiative of the Professional Development Institute, will be holding a focus group with urban planners and public affairs professionals at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ on December 10, 2009, from 9 to 10:30 am.

If you have worked on issues related to the arts in your professional capacity, please join the focus group to share your insights.  It is free and breakfast will be served.  To request to participate, please contact Arts Build Communities Director Leonardo Vazquez by email or at 732-932-3822, x711

The session will be held at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, 33 Livingston Avenue, #33.  Free parking is available to anyone who reserves a seat at least a day beforehand.

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ABC gets more support

ABC gets second year of funding from New Jersey State Council on the Arts

We are delighted to report that the New Jersey State Council on the Arts will provide a second year of support to the Arts Build Communities Initiative. The award of $7,000 was announced after Tuesday's annual meeting of the Council.

We are honored to have been awarded a grant during a very difficult budget year for the Council and the state of New Jersey. We will work as hard as possible to help the Council's support lead to many thousands of dollars of net revenue gained for New Jersey's communities and cultural organizations.

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